Death, taxes, and the Las Vegas Raiders acquiring a starting veteran quarterback on the cheap. On Friday, Las Vegas traded with the Seattle Seahawks for long-time starting passer Geno Smith. In return, Seattle will receive a 2025 third-round draft pick.
Smith will likely be the third straight veteran quarterback the Raiders open the season with. In 2023, after parting ways with then-franchise signal caller Derek Carr, the AFC West club turned to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers. Last year, the Raiders started the year with Pro Bowl quarterback Gardner Minshew under center. With the Raiders’ previous two experiments with veteran quarterbacks going awry, fans quickly jumped on social media following the late-night deal.
Las Vegas Raiders Fans Erupt Following Trade For Geno Smith
During the 2023 offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders inked quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a 3-year, $67.5 million deal, reuniting him with head coach Josh McDaniels. Garoppolo and McDaniels spent time together while with the New England Patriots. The result was a disaster, with Garoppolo throwing for seven touchdowns against nine picks in six starts before being benched for fourth-round rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell.
Last offseason, the Raiders opted to add another veteran quarterback alongside Aiden O’Connell. Las Vegas signed free agent quarterback Gardner Minshew to a two-year deal after earning Pro Bowl honors with the Indianapolis Colts the year before. Minshew registered a career-worst 81.0 quarterback rating and will be released at the start of the new league year next Wednesday.
The Raiders hope the third time will be the charm by adding quarterback Geno Smith via trade on Friday. Considered a bust by many through his first nine career seasons in the NFL, Smith won AP Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2021 and earned MVP votes after leading the NFC in passing touchdowns with 30. Although his production has declined over the past two seasons, and he tossed a brutal 15 interceptions last year, Smith is still regarded as one of the better pocket passers in his division. Nevertheless, many Las Vegas Raider fans have mixed feelings regarding their new quarterback:
Yikes! Not sure who is the bigger looser here
— Wisemantakes (@wisemantakes) March 7, 2025
if it's the 3rd we got for Adams then this is basically for free
— ＳＬＡＮＤＲ ＳＺＮ ☠️ (@im_right_though) March 8, 2025
This is crazy ,. He’s throwing over 3k yards
— TG (@Kiddreid) March 8, 2025
For only a 3rd round pick??? Loving this for my Raiders!
— WordSm7th (@WordSm7th) March 8, 2025
Raiders might actually go to the superbowl this year
— Mauii.eth has 55 riders 🪐 (@Mauii_NFT) March 8, 2025
Seattle gives up a franchise QB or Raiders just got fleeced and will overpay for a mid-QB?
Only one team can be right for this move?
— Adam (@RMEChief) March 8, 2025
Whoa, Geno Smith to the Raiders? That’s a curveball! Excited to see how he’ll shake up Vegas—big move for both him and the team.
— Iniabasi Paul (@iniabasipaul) March 8, 2025
if i’m a raiders fan im pissed 💀 i’d rather draft one of the QBs
— 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯 (@xJahstin) March 7, 2025
The raiders are trying to build the most mediocre team ever 😭
— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) March 7, 2025
Wow! This takes Raiders out of Sanders market
— Blake Levine (@blake_levine) March 7, 2025
This is encouraging to hear as a Raiders fan who doesn’t know what to expect with Geno
— Cory Dontaé (@QuietstormCor) March 8, 2025
Brock bowers stans when they anticipated a QB upgrade and that upgrade turns out to be Geno Smith pic.twitter.com/5K8NHc7zr5
— ECDeLauter (@FF_Litigator) March 8, 2025
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